Published 5:30 am, Sunday, November 4, 2007

Dunta Robinson was on crutches after the game. The star cornerback said he almost collapsed when he tried to put pressure on it.

Dunta Robinson was on crutches after the game. The star cornerback said he almost collapsed when he tried to put pressure on it.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Chronicle

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Dunta Robinson, who the Texans lost to a torn hamstring and ACL on Sunday, has been a mentor to Fred Bennett. Both cornerbacks went to the University of South Carolina.

Dunta Robinson, who the Texans lost to a torn hamstring and ACL on Sunday, has been a mentor to Fred Bennett. Both cornerbacks went to the University of South Carolina.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Chronicle

Texans CB Robinson out for year with knee injury

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OAKLAND — The Texans’ 24-17 victory over the Oakland Raiders was tempered by what appears to be a season-ending knee injury to cornerback Dunta Robinson.

Robinson, who was carted off the field in the first quarter after making a tackle, was on crutches after the game because of an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

“I definitely won’t be back,” Robinson said. “My season is over, but I will be back, and I will be back stronger than ever.

“I can’t feel sorry for myself. I won’t let that happen to me. I play this game that I love, and I’ll work hard to come back. I understand that injuries are part of this game. If it requires surgery, I want to have the surgery and start my rehab as soon as possible.”

The Texans called his injury a badly sprained right knee, but the extent won’t be known until he undergoes an MRI on Monday.

“It’s bad,” Robinson said. “When I tried to put pressure on it, I almost collapsed. I hate that it happened. I want to be on the field with my teammates.”

Robinson is going to be missed by his teammates.

“This victory was bittersweet – sweet because we needed the win so bad but bitter because we lost our best defensive player, our leader,” defensive end N.D. Kalu said. “The same thing has to happen when we come back after the bye that happened today. Guys have to step up.”

Rookie Fred Bennett made his first start opposite Robinson. DeMarcus Faggins was the nickel back. When Robinson left, Bennett and Faggins played with the first defense, and Dexter Wynn became the nickel back.

With Robinson gone for the season and Jamar Fletcher out after having his appendix removed, the Texans need another corner.

"We might be in the market for a corner real soon," coach Gary Kubiak said.